MIND candidates sweep top lay elections, head of clergy delegation
It was a largely good day in the General and Jurisdictional Conference elections for those of us working for an LGBTQ-supportive delegation that will ably represent the prophetic stance of the New York Annual Conference on this issue and many others. By the end of the day – after 10 laity ballots and 13 clergy ballots – the delegation to the General Conference had been seated. Today (and possibly tomorrow) we will continue the election process to elect the Jurisdictional Conference delegates. Jurisdictional Conference delegates serve as alternates to the General Conference delegates, and Jurisdictional Conference is itself also a crucial venue for the work of justice in the church. In preparation for the General and Jurisdictional Conferences, the entire delegation meets and works together as one team. For all these reasons, the elections for Jurisdictional Conference are as crucial as the General Conference ones now complete.
On the lay side, members of the conference elected Fred Brewington first, then Dorothee Benz, Dorlimar Lebrón Malavé and Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt. All four were endorsed by MIND. As the Jurisdictional Conference elections begin, there are two more excellent candidates that MIND is supporting that we hope will be elected at the top of that delegation. They are Ximena Varas and Roena Littlejohn. There are a number of other candidates who have also been supportive of the work for full inclusion in the UMC.
Clergy elected Tim Riss as the head of the clergy delegation. Tim was supported by MIND, as was Denise Smartt Sears, who was seated third. Rounding out the General Conference clergy delegation were Bill Shillady and Noel Chin. Notwithstanding the great news that Tim will lead the delegation and that the only Covenant of Conscience-signing district superintendent is on the delegation, many MIND supporters (and others) were dismayed that there was only one woman elected. In a progressive conference like ours in the 21st century, we should do better on gender balance. MIND’s top priorities in the Jurisdictional elections are Sara Thompson Tweedy and Vicki Flippin. We hope that they will be elected at the top of that delegation. We are also supporting Paul Fleck and Kun Sam Cho.
MIND resolutions make the consent calendar
On Thursday afternoon we took a break from voting to tend to the legislative business of the conference. Annual conference members met in legislative sections, and at Legislative Section 3, MIND’s resolutions were discussed and passed. All three — Our Vision of a Beloved and Just Community, In Celebration of the Resolution in the Case of Rev. Dr. Thomas Ogletree (new title), and Support for Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy and all LGBTQ clergy and candidates (new title) – were passed with margins greater than 90%. [Some amendments were offered by MIND, which are not yet incorporated on the web versions; they did not change the substance of any resolution.] That means they will be on the consent calendar when we take up resolutions on the plenary floor, i.e., they will be included on the list of other items passed at the 90% or higher rate and voted on as one group. This is the first time all of MIND’s resolutions have made it onto the consent calendar and only the second time that any MIND resolution ever has.
Ogletree, Tweedy honored at MFSA dinner
The Gwen and C. Dale White Award from MFSA this year went to Tom Ogletree and Sara Thompson Tweedy, in recognition of the contribution they each made to the cause of justice by how they responded to official church prosecution. Tom as unable to attend, and Paul Fleck, who served as his assistant counsel throughout his case, accepted the award on his behalf. Sara was joined by her family and (not surprisingly to anyone who has ever heard her preach) gave a moving speech that captivated the room. She made clear how her biggest concern throughout the 14 months that an official complaint hung over her head was for those who will come behind her. Queer seminarians should not have to wonder and worry whether they can be ordained; nor should they have to sacrifice their integrity. Sara presented a vision (and a challenge) to the Board of Ordained Ministry to make that a reality. “My ask of you,” she said, “is that you say, ‘Hell yes, they’re gay and they can be ordained in this conference. That will not be a disqualifier. We will not be complicit in discrimination.”